Create Family clearances that will can be controlled in Navis and Revit

Create Family clearances that will can be controlled in Navis and Revit<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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In some projects you are asked to show clearances for equipment. So you may think fine I will draw a box to represent the clearance and it will grow with the component etc. Before doing so think about a few things. Do you need to be able to segregate or turn off this Clearance in Navis Works or produce Views that can control it in Revit. Here are some options for you.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

First Create a Sub category in the Family level that you will use throughout the project as the Norm or create this name at the company level so that in any project this is a recognizable name. If you have variables of this name, it will be case sensitive and you will gain additional instances in the Project.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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Now create the standard definitions of line type and color to signify your clearances. You can also define a custom material at this level. The Next step is to draw the shape for clearances. Assign the constraints to the shape and dimension parameters to your liking. Then Assign 3 things<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

·         Material<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

·         SubCategory<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

·         The Visible (Parameter) Usually a check box. I recommend a shared parameter on this as you will be able to now control all the families containing this simultaneously and control them.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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Once these items are clarified load the family back in and take a look at the parameters at the project level. If they look good, great go ahead and test them out. If all is good let’s move on.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

Next create a view that has all the families that have the clearances. You can now show all of the families and set up a view template in this view or just adjust the Visual graphics. You could use this view as a dwg export that will be JUST the clearances of the equipment. By doing this you give the Responsible party a means to tweak how they perform your collision testing. It has been my experience that many say they want the clearances but as time goes on in the project they pressure you top become more lenient so that these collisions can show up as resolved or ignored. The view you create will still be a good record of what is clashing so if you need to you can resolve these on a case by case. An example of the view in Revit will still initially show the families but you can adjust them in the export function by giving them a layer modifier.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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Down lower on the list you have the “Modifiers” Which notice above is part of the new layer<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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Again double check you started your export from this new view we made. If you are in another view you will gain the entire model.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

Also take note the Subcategories Are on Layer “Clearance” for the Clearances.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

Now we have two methods you can follow. The first will be to open the file in AutoCAD.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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Now we have a Layer for Clearances in the dwg file. Let’s Load it into Navis Works.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

You will have a few layers to Hide but can easily get to them<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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Now override the Clearances if you want to transparent values. You can also adjust the color.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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Now this can be there for inspection and be left out of collision sets very easily.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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The other way if you don’t have AutoCAD is to pull the Revit file into Navis, or use NWC Export of that view. It could also depend on your deliverable requirements. NWC’s are way faster to generate. Revit Direct can take a long time to “Append” and “Refresh”.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

To get to the clearances, they will be on their Subcategory you created for your Clearances.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

They will be in this area of the Selection Tree:<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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You basically get an equal result as importing a dwg.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

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So with these options you have a better chance of keeping all the parties happy.<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

Stay positive!<data-blogger-escaped-o:p></data-blogger-escaped-o:p>

Rick Buckman